And the Land Lay Still by James Robertson

Author:James Robertson [Robertson, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9780141959399
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2010-06-17T12:00:00+00:00

EDGAR: A part of that. Were you a part of … whatever he was talking about?

BOND: Oh aye. I was. (His head lurches and the cargo slides once more.) Well, no, I wasn’t.

EDGAR: What was he talking about anyway?

BOND: You should know. There were plenty of people in Intelligence who thought Wilson’s Labour government was beyond the pale, virtually handing the country over to the trade unions. Some of them even thought Wilson was a Russian mole, for God’s sake.

EDGAR: Croick?

BOND: No. He wasn’t that stupid. But the general thesis – that there had to be back-up, a contingency plan – he subscribed to that. It wasn’t primarily about Scotland. Scotland was an adjunct, but it was his patch, his particular responsibility. That’s what he was telling me: once this is sorted we can get on with our lives. I was part of his plan to keep Scotland British.

EDGAR: But you knew that. You’d been working at it for years.

BOND: Well, I’d had enough. I tried to get out, a year or so later. This time I used the system to set up a meeting with Croick. I had a good excuse. I was about to be unemployed. The bookshop was going out of business and I thought I’d take the chance. And you know what? I thought Croick would just shrug and let me go. Good riddance. How naive can you get? So we arranged to meet, in this pub on the Southside, in Shawlands.

EDGAR (as CROICK): I heard about the shop. A shame, but hardly a surprise. Neither is this, Peter. I can see you’re tired.

BOND: I’m not tired. I’m finished, done. It’s over.

CROICK: So you want a wee rest? Why not? Recharge your batteries.

BOND: I don’t want to recharge my fucking batteries. I want out.

CROICK: Oh, I don’t think so. Not after all this time. Let’s not lose touch now. We can’t lose touch.

BOND: What’s that, a threat?

CROICK: A statement of fact. We’re connected. But what am I saying? Things are under control, so, aye, go off and do your own thing for a while. No reason why you have to stay in Glasgow either. Edinburgh would be good. Get yourself a job in Edinburgh. Go into business. Any idea what you might do?

BOND: You’re not taking this seriously, are you?

CROICK: I take everything seriously. Even jokes. I hate it when a joke isn’t funny, don’t you? Here’s one. Why won’t Scotland ever be independent? Because whenever the Scots get offered the chance of a free Scotland they know there must be a catch. A bargain-basement Scotland? Sounds interesting. A cheapish one? Aye, maybe … But a free one? No thanks. Think we came up the Clyde in a wheelbarrow? Now, you tell me, is that funny? Think about it. (He stands up, goes to the bar and orders another round. While he’s waiting he goes over to the jukebox and puts in a coin, punches in a selection. He collects the drinks and brings them back to the table.

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